A group of pro-life medical professionals came to Albany on Wednesday to argue that the expected legislation on reproductive rights represent “bad policy and bad medicine.”

“We’re here today to let our state lawmakers know that not all women and not all health care professionals support changing New York law to expand abortion,” said Dr. Anne Nolte, a family physician and director of the National Gianna Center for Women’s Health and Fertility, which according to its website “only offer(s) healthcare which is consistent with Catholic medical ethics.”

Because Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s version of the bill is still in process, Nolte and others at the news conference — which was co-sponsored by the state Catholic Conference — fell back on criticizing the Democrat-backed Reproductive Health Act “or similar legislation.”

Cuomo counsel Mylan Denerstein on Monday issued a sharply worded op-ed that said the Cuomo bill would represent nothing more than a codification and modernization of existing state and federal protections, and that it would not do any of the things the pro-life advocates claimed — including imperiling Catholic hospitals that choose not to perform abortions for religious reasons.

The data war over the question of whether abortion traumatizes women has been hard-fought. The bulk of the testimony offered at the press conference was purely anecdotal — of women suddenly overcome with guilt years later, or unable to look at a pregnant woman on the street or at a baby shower.

… (W)omen who have aborted are at a higher risk for a variety of mental health problems including anxiety (panic attacks, panic disorder, agoraphobia, PTSD), mood (bipolar disorder, major depression with and without hierarchy), and substance abuse disorders when compared to women without a history of abortion after controls were instituted for a wide range of personal, situational, and demographic factors.

A 2010 attempt to replicate those findings, however, failed. Instead, researchers found that other risk factors, and not whether a woman had an abortion, are better predictors of future mental health. “Women likely to have negative psychological outcomes following an abortion are those least apt to cope with any stressful life event including giving birth to an unwanted pregnancy,” said a study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.

Brenda Major, who interviewed hundreds of women for her own research on the aftermath of abortion, summarized her concerns about studies showing a causal link between abortion and mental health in a 2010 Washington Post op-ed. Those on the other side responded by lining up their own set of studies.

Here’s video of Nolte’s opening comments:

Update: Here the statement in response from the regional chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:

The New York State District of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG District II) continues to affirm the right of all women to obtain a safe and legal abortion and have timely access to other reproductive health services and medication.

Abortions are necessary in a number of circumstances to save the life of a woman or to preserve her health. Unfortunately, pregnancy is not a risk-free life event, particularly for many women with chronic medical conditions. Despite all of our medical advances, many women die each year from pregnancy and childbirth-related reasons. In fact, many more women would die each year if they did not have access to abortion to protect their health or to save their lives. If abortion is to be performed, it should be performed safely and as early as possible.

ACOG District II supports access to care for all individuals, irrespective of financial status, and supports the availability of all reproductive options, including abortion. ACOG opposes unnecessary regulations that limit or delay access to care.

ACOG District II opposes the harassment of abortion providers and patients and strongly supports those activities which prevent unintended pregnancy.

Update: Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is standing foursquare with the administration; his response to the news conference:

“Despite truly irresponsible demagoguery aimed solely at inflaming public opinion, existing New York State laws and regulations have long been interpreted to allow non-physician medical professionals, including physician assistants, to perform reproductive health procedures in certain circumstances. Our office will to continue to defend the right of New York women to make their own health and reproductive choices.”

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